From the time the Denver Nuggets clinched the NBA championship in June, they had been eager to re-sign Bruce Brown, an unreserved free agent who played a pivotal role in their championship triumph. With little room under the salary cap, Denver was unable to retain Brown, who consequently signed a two-year, $44 million deal with the Indiana Pacers. This Sunday marks Brown’s return to Denver for a daytime showdown with his new team.

Brown averaged 11.5 points during his tenure in Denver, but his true value lay in his all-around game and his capacity to defend various positions. He has brought the same impact to Indiana, proving particularly crucial in the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, who is sidelined with a left hamstring strain. The Pacers have triumphed in three consecutive games, including the last two without their star guard, and have secured victories in 9 of their last 10 games. They are currently engaged in a six-game road trip, commencing at Atlanta and concluding with five matches against Western Conference adversaries.

Rick Carlisle, the Indiana coach, emphasized the significance of winning two games in the absence of Tyrese, stating, “Two wins without Tyrese, that’s really important.” The Pacers have managed to compensate for Haliburton’s absence by diversifying the scoring load. In their recent 126-108 victory against the Hawks, eight players achieved double-digit scores, collectively amassing 41 assists. T.J. McConnell excelled off the bench with 14 assists.

Andrew Nembhard, who contributed 10 points and six assists, commented, “I think that’s our (modus operandi), really, on offense, to have a lot of guys score some points.”

Although Brown can provide Indiana with insider knowledge on how to counter the Nuggets, it will be a challenging task. Nikola Jokic has demonstrated his ability to defeat opponents by scoring or by facilitating, and if one avenue is obstructed, he still inflicts damage through the other.

In a recent triumph against Detroit, Jokic attempted only three shots but delivered 16 assists. In the Friday night game, he achieved his 12th triple-double of the season and 117th of his career, contributing significantly to a 125-113 victory over New Orleans.

Following a lackluster performance in a defeat to Utah, Denver rebounded, Coach Michael Malone acknowledged, “It was night and day, a different team.” Despite a few underwhelming displays, the Nuggets have won 10 of their last 13 games. Jokic has been remarkably efficient in the last eight games, sinking 79.3 percent of his field goals (73-for-92) and maintaining a 90 percent accuracy from the free-throw line. He has also averaged 10 assists in six January games.

One of Jokic’s 14 assists in the win over the Pelicans electrified the home crowd. At the end of the first half, he executed an over-the-head, no-look alley-oop to Aaron Gordon, exclaiming, “It seems like we have a good connection. He’s always there, I just need to pass it,” conveying his satisfaction with their synergy.